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Real members of myHSteam have posted questions and answers that support our community guidelines, and should not be taken as medical advice. Looking for the latest medically reviewed content by doctors and experts? Visit our resource section.

Do people with HS typically have less hair on their bodies?

A myHSteam Member asked a question 💭

Curious, I have thin hair and I am not very hairy anywhere on my body. Including pubis and pits. I was just wondering if this was true for all. Given the connection of hs and hair follicles

April 1
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A myHSteam Member

I have he but I also have pcos so I am very hairy even on chin area but I was diagnosed with the hs two years ago I think I’ve always had it but I feel it got increasingly worse with weight gain I have noticed less hair on my upper legs and inner thigh area and lower legs a bit I still get thick hair in other places but others not so much wondering if less hair could be a symptom I just blamed getting older tbh I’m 35

April 7
A myHSteam Member

I agree with Laura... I myself have no hair on my legs anymore when I used to have very stubbly hair on my legs and I no longer get hair on my lower belly like I used to but, my pubic area is hairy which, i do not shave due to the H.S. and the worrying of ingrown hairs, nicks, etc. I have a cyst on my groin that opens up and fills up very often and my hair around my butt line is very hairy as well. That could be from not shaving the pubic area. I guess I need a bikini wax asap... LOL . I do NOTICE less underarm hair as well but, the top of my head and brows are as hairy as ever. I know it's all T M I but, that's what I've noticed. So I would say I too, notice less body hair. My Mom always told me that that comes with age and I am 53! I'm NOT complaining... I always HATED shaving!! Having PCOS, I deal with enough excess facial hair!

April 1
A myHSteam Member

Lol, we only get answers to the questions we ask.
Sometimes you have to think outside the box to get answers.

April 1
myHSteam

Do people with HS typically have less body hair?

Actually, the opposite is more commonly associated with HS. Having excess body hair (a condition called hirsutism) is actually listed as a risk factor for developing hidradenitis suppurativa, not having less hair.

HS develops at hair follicles and causes inflammation in Show Full Answer

Do people with HS typically have less body hair?

Actually, the opposite is more commonly associated with HS. Having excess body hair (a condition called hirsutism) is actually listed as a risk factor for developing hidradenitis suppurativa, not having less hair.

HS develops at hair follicles and causes inflammation in areas where hair grows, but this doesn't mean everyone with HS has the same amount of body hair. People with HS can have varying amounts of body hair—some may have more, some average, and some less.

Your experience with thin hair and less body hair in typical HS areas like the armpits and pubic region is valid, but it's not necessarily the norm for everyone with HS. The condition affects people differently, and body hair patterns vary widely from person to person regardless of whether they have HS.

The connection between HS and hair follicles is about where the inflammation starts (at the follicle), not necessarily about how much hair you have growing from those follicles.

April 1
A myHSteam Member

Well Laura for me personally, I believe that I have a lot of keratin in my dna, so for me I have a lot of thick hair with HS. Definitely not thin! And as soon as I try to trim it, then it grows back very quickly. And I also feel it's either about the same or thicker.

The only thing I don't like having thick hair with HS, is that it's in the affected areas, and it's ingrown hair follicles causing the breakouts from bacteria, from doing my own research. But I'm glad I can at least trim to try to keep the breakouts down. I use a eyebrow trimmer or scissors. 🙂

April 9

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